Florence Leontine Mary Welch, better known as the vocal powerhouse and creative force for Florence + The Machine, has been capturing hearts and enthralling minds since the release of her first studio album. 2009’s “Lungs” saw fantastic success, from radio-friendly smashes like “Dog Days Are Over” and “Kiss With A Fist” to lower-key confessionals that resonated with fans the world over. With three full albums under her belt since then — including the recently-released “High as Hope” — there’s no better time to consider the breadth and depth of music that Welch has released over the past nine years.
This 15-track mixtape starts with a familiar-sounding cover, the version of “Stand By Me” that Florence recorded as part of a project making music for “Final Fantasy XV.” From there, it’s practically chronological, journeying through tracks and B-sides from “Lungs,” “Ceremonials” and “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.” From crashing and complex orchestral-sounding pieces to soft-spoken instrumentals, Florence + The Machine (and Welch herself) demonstrate not only flexibility in her/their music, but a willingness to adapt and experiment across an incredible range. The final two tracks are the closing tunes from this year’s “High as Hope,” and provide both a fitting end to the previous eras of Florence and a new beginning for the songstress-cum-high priestess.
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